Loose leaf binder



May 3, 1932. L. IMPI-:Y

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Aug. 18, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l l l l I l l I I l l I IILIII l III-IIIIIIIIIIII II l May.3, 1932. F. L, IMPEY 1,856,337

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Aug. 18, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a k ji l' fp e /l h b Fig.4 a

aix/wy Patented May 3, 1932 UNITED S'T'AT'ESy PATENT OFFICE FRANCIS LEVITT IMIEY, OF IIRMINGIElAlVl,y ENGLAND,` ASSIGNOR T0 MORLAND &

IMPEY LIMITED, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND LoosE LEAF BINDER Application filed August 18, 1931, Serial No. 557,853and in Great-Britain August 27, 1930.

This invention relates to loose leaf books, and has for its object to provide a binder of improved construction whereby the leaves can readily be secured or released. The invention is especially applicable to books in which the leaves are arranged in stepped or overlapping order.

The invention comprises the combination of a pair of covers, clamping bars associated with the rear edges of the covers, posts on the clamping bars engaging holes in the leaves, supporting sheets between which the leaves are placed and provided with projections whereby the supporting sheets are engaged with each other and with the leaves and the clamping bars, and binding thongs interconnecting the covers, the portions of the thongs which lie between the covers being arranged to pass across and outside of the rear edges of the leaves.

In the two accompanying planatory drawings :-V

Figure l is a side elevation with a part of the cover removed showing a portion of a sheets of exloose leaf binder in closed position constructed in accordance with this invention, and Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the binder.

Figure 3 is an end view of the binder and Figure 4 is a cross-section on the line 4.4 Figure 2.

In carrying shown, I employ a pair of stiff `covers a of any convenient construction. These are interconnected by a plurality of binding thongs The thongs are at one end attached to one of the covers, and at the other end are attached to a slidable cross bar c operated or secured by a screw d or other convenient means arranged within the other cover. The screw mechanism shown is well known and forms no part of the present invention.

In association with the rear edge of each cover there is arranged a clamping bar e,

which may be separate from the cover or pivotally attached to it. In the form illustrated the clamping bars are separate from andare not attached to the covers. 'Each clamping bar is provided with two or more posts f for engaging holes 1n the leaves g and sheets h to extend beyond the rea-r edge of the cover,

the invention into edect asy be hereinafter referred to, and also with holes i for engagement by posts j or projections on the sheets. Preferably the outer side of each bar is shaped to a form which enables it to engage the rear edge of the cover. Thus it may be formed along its outer edge with a shoulder 70 with which the rear edge of the cover can engage so that the cover can rock or be articulated relatively to the bar. The shoulder serves to increase the security of the binding action exerted on the leaves. In the construction illustrated the bar is made from two strips of material secured together by rivets or otherwise, one of uthe strips being bent at right-angles along one edge to form the said shoulder. This constructionis not, however, essential and is only employed as a convenience in certain cases. Sometimes I employ only a singlethickness strip bent up at right-angles along one edge to provide the part 7c. In this case,

vif the thickness of the Vstrip is insufficient to accommodate the projecting ends of the adjacent posts j I provide recesses or holes in the inner sides of the covers opposite the holes in the strip to receive the post ends. Instead of arranging a shoulder 'c as shown, on the clamping bar, the barmay be constructed to and formed along itsfouter tace with a groove in which the rear edge vof the cover canV rock when the cover is opened. Also one or eachk bar is preferably formed vwith gaps Z to` accommodate the binding thongs and allow the thongs to be swung clear of the bar or bars when it is required to remove the leaves. Such gaps are made to a 'shape as shown in Figure-l, providing a recess at one end with Vwhich one edge of the thong can engage.

The bar cannot then be accidentally detached u from the thongs. To separate the bar and thongs the bar must be moved in the direction of its own length suiiiciently to disengage the thongs from the recesses in the gaps Z.

The'leaves g to Ibe bound which are relai-,-

tive narrow, are arranged in groups vcontained between supporting sheets h, and the leaves in each group are arranged in the usual stepped orv overlapping order. On the rearedges'of the supporting sheets, short 109 hollow posts j or projections are provided in known manner for engaging holes in the leaves, the posts on any of the intermediate supporting sheets being also arranged to engage the interiors of the posts on adjacent sheet-s. The projections on the front and back supporting sheets also engage the holes 21 provided for them in the clamping bars.

The leaves and supporting' sheets are provided with straight or uninterrupted rea-r edges and the disposition of the binding thongs relatively to the clamping bars isV such that they lie across and outside the rear edges of the leaves, so thatl there is no necesf sity for notching the latter to accommodate the thongs.

After the leaves have been assembled in position between the supporting sheets their rear edges are engaged with the clamping bars, and the whole are secured between the covers by tightening the thongs.

In binders as above described relative displacement of the leaves and supporting sheets is prevented by the projections on the supporting sheets and the posts on the clamping bars. The thongs serve only to exert the required pressure on the bars.

By this invention I am able to effect the Y binding between covers, of leaves arranged as described, in a very convenient and effective manner. Owing to the stepped disposition of the leaves, the thickness of the assembled leaves is greater at the centre than at the upper and lower edges. To compensate this condition the supporting sheets are tions of the thongs which lie between the covers being arranged to pass across and outside of the rear edges of the leaves, substantially as described.

2. In loose leaf binders as claimed in claim l', a clamping bar having along its outer edge a shoulder against which the rear edgeof the adjacent cover can abut, the said edge being formedv with open gaps having end recesses for detachable engagement by the binding thongs, substantially as described. l In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FRANCISv LEVIT'I IMPEY.

embossed at their upper and lower parts or are otherwise provided in known manner with compensating means whereby a uniform thickness is obtained, and by the use of such means I am able to arrange for the clamping bars to exert uniform pressure along the rear edges of the leaves.

The posts fby which the leaves are connected to the clamping bars are shown as straight posts in the example illustrated. I may alternatively employ'posts which are curved along the whole of their length. Curved posts are preferable for many purposes as they enable a flatter opening of the book to be obtained than stra-ight posts, though straight posts are sufliciently satisfactory for some purposes.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In loose leaf binders, the combination of a pair of covers, clamping bars associated with the rear edges of the covers, posts on the clampingbars engaging holes in the leaves, supporting sheets between which the leaves are-placed and provided with projections and perforations whereby the supporting` sheets are engaged with each other and with the leaves andv the clamping bars, and binding thongs interconnecting the covers, the por- 

